Elementary students' images and understanding of First Nations people ...

• Main Author: Kaschel, Werner Friedrich Karl
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: University of British Columbia 2009
• Subjects: First Nations
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0054932; https://doi.library.ubc.ca/10.14288/1.0054932

The purpose of this study was to examine grade six and seven students' images and understanding of First Nations people. Eighteen students participated in the study out of an intact class of 21. I hypothesized, based on the students' personal experience through popular culture, family and school, that they would possess historical images and would lack a broad understanding of contemporary First Nations people. I determined what their images and understanding were prior to starting a unit of study on the subject and what, if any, changes occurred in their thinking and knowledge after the eight week unit was taught. The unit focused on the First Nations cultures of British Columbia with special attention given to the Northwest Coast cultures. Data were collected using a photo-portrait questionnaire, pre- and post- unit questionnaires, learning log entries, and pre- and post-unit interviews with six students. A photo- portrait questionnaire consisted of 15 images representing contemporary and historical First ...